MIAMI-DADE COUNTY - The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners adopted a Resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Bruno A. Barreiro, which urges the President of the United States, the United States Congress, Florida Governor Rick Scott, and the members of the Florida Legislature, to support and adopt strong economic sanctions against the Socialist government of Nicolás Maduro for his relentless human rights abuses against the people of Venezuela.

The Board found that despite previous calls by the world community, the outcries of the Venezuelan people and their brethren in exile around the globe, for the Maduro government to restore human rights, release political prisoners and reestablish an independent legislative branch, representative of the needs of the nation, the Maduro regime has only intensified its oppression and is clearly moving toward a totalitarian regime. As a result, the Board found no other alternative but to issue a Resolution calling for the executive and legislative branches of the United States government, as well as that of the State of Florida to adopt the necessary economic measures banning commercial ventures against the increasingly dictatorial regime of Venezuela until such time as the Maduro government is no longer in power and the people of Venezuela can truly enjoy a free and Democratic nation once again.

“It has become clear that the Maduro regime has no intention of honoring the will of the people and has continued to move steadily toward a totalitarian form of government. The good people of Venezuela have long suffered under this government, and as time passes, I am afraid that conditions will only get worse. – said Commissioner Barreiro “For these reasons, I found it necessary to sponsor this Resolution urging the President, the U.S. Congress, as well as the Governor and the Florida Legislature to act as quickly as possible to impose the strongest economic pressure on the Maduro regime so that this oppressive government no longer benefits commercially from the people of the United States and the State of Florida.”